Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-24
Conversation - q study.


And why not? Why do we cram
ologies, oSophies, end onomics into
Young girls overtaxed brain, and then
cCmplacently send her out into the
critical, censorious world with limited
vocabulary, little knowledge OF the
subtle meaning, the ms and outs, the
lights and shades of her own language,
scanty information on current topics,
less power to communicate what she
had read, and few silly stock
phrases. which l wish could be
oElitonted +? The best scholars
seem TO be awkward, shy, and silent,
unless drawn ont upon their favOrite
study: the more frivolous and super
fetal chatter, indulge in superlatives,
and gigglc. Is this too severe? A
wise old bachelor. who has had un-
common social opportunities and who
is always criticising his woman friends
in way at once cynical and helpful,
said 10 me the other day Why don't
you slant n conversation class? It isan
art that is strangelyneglected. Atleast
ven can write about this and try to
wake women to the fact that they do
net converse. They seem to'merely
open their pretty mouths and let
tie words tumble out without any
plan or foietbOught. ] asked young
lady who wos attending one of our best
boarding-s schools what instruction was
given her there in conversation, and she
bad never heard OF such "a thing being
attempted 20 he set me to thinking
and writing. Professor Townsend las
given YOU series of admirable essays
or conversation. am sure he will not
object to my following i'll the same
track with few hOmely, everyday.
actual illustrations. Let me speak first
Of unmeaning and annoying phrases
Which are universally used by the slip
shOd talkcr.
Some of my friends, after mallinga
statement that Ia self-evident, and that
any one but an idiot could comprehend
instantly, will lead me along as If non
ccmpOs with a tiresomc, "Dye see ?
"See 2" " Sec ?" usually accompanied
with q monotonous gesture or wave OF
the hand for added assistance and ex-
Dlapation, as if the rather simple SEN
tence was an abstruse Geometric pro-
blem, which Unjust approach by gentle
degrees and with deal of boosting.
once visited an otherwise agreeable
couple. where the wife would respond
to all l said, "To be sure, "to he
sure" and the husband used this odlous
"see?" constantly, until WAS forced
to give up the intimacy. They we're
GOOD friends, but uncomfortable from
this habit.
"Doncher know land call that sort
of thing" are far too common. Others
use "you know to punctnate their re-
marks, when 1 do not know; or las
Won saw" when | have not said any
Thing of tie sort.
Listen to the superlatiyes that pour
ont from the lips of the average young
lady or married woman.
First and last let me anathematlze
perfectly lovely" Bah that Is truly
pauseating. / venture to affirm that
that much-abused phrase isused at least
ten times daily by every schoolgirl,
every college girl, every young lady III
this country. It is the stock phrase at
Smith, Wellesley, and Vassar in fact
conversation would droop and langulsh
without it. A young lady comes IN to
see me, and she begins 80 Miss San
born, how perfectly lovely your rooms
are and isn't it lovely to live in
fat and you have an eleyator-how
lovely! Its just horrid TO climb three
fights as / had to yesterday, although
The bride called on was so lovely
didn't mind, you know. Her rooms
were fitted up so lovely with her we'd
ding presents, don't you see, and she
had on perfectly elegant reception
Jresg-iust too lovely for anything
dcncher know? / can't describe it, but
il had lots o. jet on satin, and twas
lust lovely. Her hair, you know,
Is lust that exquisite, lovely chestnut
shade, with ripple OF gold, doncher
know. and all that sort of thing. Ycu
don't know how enjoyed your recep-
ton last week; the music was so splen-
did And that pretty woman who whls-
fled. wasn't she bewitching2 inst too
lovely for anything And the men
Won do get such nice men-good- look.
ING. and such swells Oh, ma and
said when we got home that it was per